Creeper



Sept. 21, 1954 L. c. MULLIN 2,689,744

CREEPER Filed Aug. 28, 1950 Fig. I

2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 hlllllHlllliMlllll 78 Q Lin 0 c. Mull/n Fig 3 y INVENTOR.

L. C. MULLIN Sept. 21, 1954 CREEPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 4 m a 6, mm d m M L Y Patented Sept. 21 1954 CREEPER.

Lloyd G. Mullin, North Anson, Maine Application August 28, 1950, Serial No. 181,900

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in repair creepers used in the repair of automotive vehicles and the like, and more particularly to the type of creeper wherein means are provided for supporting the head and shoulders of the mechanic in raised position and for holding the creeper from movement on the supporting surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable head and shoulder rest of the repair creeper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means for moving the head and shoulder rest from horizontal position to a second position and for latching the means in supporting position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a brake means on the supporting platform of the repair creeper which is adapted to engage the ground lifting the end of the creeper and the casters thereon from engagement with the ground whereby movement of the creeper with respect to the supporting surface is prevented.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a repair creeper having a slidable tray mounted thereon whereby the tools employed in repairing may be carried thereby.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description to follow.

In the description as well as in the claims, parts are at times identified by specific names for convenience, but such nomenclature is intended to be as generic in its application to analogous parts as the prior art would permit.

Thus, the manner in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view with parts broken away showing the brake employed in conjunction with the present invention; and,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the latching mechanism on the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral l0 designates generally the repair creeper of the present invent-ion.

The repair creeper H1 is comprised of a platform l2 supported at the corners on a plurality of casters [4, a head rest [6 pivotally mounted on the platform l2, a pivoting bracket l8 bearing against the back of the head rest 16, and a draw bar 20 connected to the pivoting bracket for moving the bracket from a first position to a second position angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal.

The platform I 2 is formed of a substantially rectangular shaped flat plate provided withs'ides 22 and 24, and the ends 26 and 28 secured thereto. The ends '26 and 28 being reinforced by cross pieces 25 and 21, respectively. The supporting platform I2 is provided with an opening 30 which is adapted to be closed by the head and shoulder rest [5. The platform 12 being reinforced ad jacent the opening 30 by the cross piece 33. A plurality of casters [4 are secured to the undersides of the edges 22, 24, 26 and 28 at the corners of the entire platform.

The head and shoulder rest It is formed of a rectangular plate hingedly connected to the supporting platform l2 by means of the hinge 34. Positioned across the upperedge of the head and shoulder rest 16 is a pillow 36 which is formed of stuffing 38 covered by a leather or rubber covering 40 which is adapted to be secured to the plate 16. The back side of the head and shoulder rest I 6 is provided with an angulated rod 42 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The pivoting bracket I8 is formed from a U-shaped member 44 having a bight portion 48 for engagement .with the head and shoulder rest l6 and has its ends 48 and 50 fixedly secured to a shaft 52 which is pivotally supported by the supporting platform l2 by means of the bracket 54. The shaft 52 has secured thereon a bell crank 56 to which is attached for pivoting movement the draw bar 20.

Adjacent the foot of the repair creeper and upon the right hand side an angulated stop 60 is secured. The draw bar 20 is provided with a plurality of rectangular notches 62 and a handle 64 at its extreme end. The stop 60 is provided with a guard 6| to prevent the drawbar '28 being accidentally pushed off the end of stop 60.

It will readily be seen from the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the drawings pivoting the bell crank 56 and shaft 52 whereby the pivoting bracket I8 engages the back side of the head and shoulder rest moving the same to head and shoulder supporting position. The handle 64 is then moved downwardly in order that the notches 62 may be engaged with the stop 60 for retention thereby.

The creeper I is provided with a pair of cross members 66 and 68 which are secured to the underside of each of the sides 22 and 24. Each of the cross members 66 and 68 is provided with a groove 12 and 10. A tray 14, of conventional form, has its longitudinal edges 16 and 18 slidably received in the grooves and '12 whereby the tray may be moved from its inner position to an extended position for holding tools while working.

The creeper it) of the present invention is also provided with a brake mechanism designated generally as 86. The means for supporting the brake mechanism 80 with respect to the creeper 10 includes a pair of brackets 82 which are secured to the undersides of the edges 22 and 24 by means of screws 84. Pivotally mounted in the brackets 82 and 84 is a first bar 86- having an angulated end 88 forming a handle. An angulated bar 90 has its legs 92 fixedly secured to the first bar 86. A pair of resilient clamp members 94 are secured to the underside of the supporting platform 12 adjacent the brake 80 and in such position that when the first shaft 86 is rotated to one position, the angulated bar 90 will be engaged in the clamp elements 94 when not muse.

When the repair creeper of the present invention is in position for use, and it is desired to hold the creeper from movement, the handle 88 is rotated so that the angulated bar 90 is in the 4 position shown in Figure '7, whereby the foot of the creeper and the casters mounted thereon are held in supported relation from the surface 96. It will readily be seen that movement of the repair creeper will be prevented thereby.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real purpose of my invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A mechanics creeper comprising a body supporting platform, casters secured to the underside of said platform, said platform having an opening adjacent one end thereof, a headrest plate, hinge means attaching said plate to the edge of said opening, a supporting rod journaled on said platform and extending across said opening, a U-shaped member rigidly fixed on said supporting rod, an angulated guide rod fixed on the lower side of said plate and. embracing the bight of said U-shaped member, a crank rigidly secured on said rod, a draw bar pivotally attached to said crank, and means for latching said draw bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 980,049 Beyer Dec. 2'7, 1910 1,132,614 Payne Mar. 23, 1915 1,349,941 Broome Aug. 17, 1920 1,941,214 Kusterle Dec. 26, 1933 2,054,598 Goldenberg Sept, 15, 1936 2,210,585 Hulbert Aug. 6, 1940 2,303,433 Caldwell et al Dec. 1, 1942 2,430,662 Barton Nov. 11, 1947 2,487,706 Happ Nov. 8, 1949 2,498,313 Sweatt Jr Feb. 21, 1950 2,509,934 Murray May 30, 1950 ,519,364 Fredholm Aug. 22, 1950 2,523,962 Mahafiey et a1 Sept. 26, 1950 Brown Aug. 14, 1951 

